Testing my Pub Quiz
 

So we've decided to throw a pub quiz for our Hogmanay (New Years) party, including a mini-keg and a pub-luck (pot-luck with a pub grub theme).

I've been stressing over my questions as I'm the quiz-master and been trying to find that fine line between too easy and too hard, which as a Scot in Canada is tough. Theres a few Scots coming, but it's mainly Canadians, Oh and we also have a Chilean coming so need a few questions for him...

Anyway I thought I'd post my questions here over the next few days, see how this community does (without Google of course) as it can both get me feedback and provide a nice distraction as we get closer to Christmas and are trying to procrastinate at work. I've got 8 rounds so will post 2 at a time for the next few days and add up points if you answer.

Rd 1 - Scottish/Canadian/Chilean Geography:

• How far as the crow flies between Calgary and Stirling in KM (within 100km, half point within 200km) (NB most the group are going to a wedding in Stirling next year hence the question and I've already asked this on the invite so not as tough as it first seems)
• On which northern island is the capital of Nunavut, located? Bonus - correctly spell the capital
• Scotland's population is just over 5 million based on the 2006 census, which Canadian province is closest in population size (plus or minus)
• Rank the capital cities of Chile, Canada & Scotland from largest to smallest by population (need capital names)
• Whats shorter, Chile at it's widest point, or the distance between Calgary & Saskatoon by road
• According to the 2006 census there are 4 cities in Scotland that have more than 100,000 people, Glasgow & Edinburgh are the easy two, half point each for the other 2
• There is only one point where 4 provinces/territories meet in Canada, half point for each province/territry at that point
• Ben Nevis is the highest point in Scotland, is it higher or lower than Calgary, bonus how high is it in m to within 100m, half point within 200m
• Name the 3 countries that have land borders with Chile, 1/2 point for 2, full point for all 3

Rd 2 - For the towns listed are they in Scotland, Canada or Both, 10 points available, with 2 bonus for all right, Another bonus for picking the one that's also the name of a crater on an asteroid:

• Bannf
• Bucklaw
• Clackmannan
• Cockburnspath
• Cow Head
• Edmonton
• Falkirk
• Gretna
• Inverness
• Stirling

Good Luck - any feedback appreciated

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

This has gotta be better than work. Let me get a cup of coffee.... and no Google, I promise!

Rd 1 - Scottish/Canadian/Chilean Geography:

• How far as the crow flies between Calgary and Stirling in KM (within 100km, half point within 200km) (NB most the group are going to a wedding in Stirling next year hence the question and I've already asked this on the invite so not as tough as it first seems) blimey... assuming a crow would fly a Great Circle, I'd guess somewhere around 7,000km?
• On which northern island is the capital of Nunavut, located? Bonus - correctly spell the capital Iqaluit on Baffin Island
• Scotland's population is just over 5 million based on the 2006 census, which Canadian province is closest in population size (plus or minus) Quebec
• Rank the capital cities of Chile, Canada & Scotland from largest to smallest by population (need capital names) Santiago, Edinburgh, Ottawa
• Whats shorter, Chile at it's widest point, or the distance between Calgary & Saskatoon by road Chile at its widest (I'm guessing the counterintuitive answer is the right one, otherwise why ask the question?)
• According to the 2006 census there are 4 cities in Scotland that have more than 100,000 people, Glasgow & Edinburgh are the easy two, half point each for the other 2 Aberdeen, Dundee?
• There is only one point where 4 provinces/territories meet in Canada, half point for each province/territry at that point Ooh, I know that one! MB, SK, NU and NT.
• Ben Nevis is the highest point in Scotland, is it higher or lower than Calgary, bonus how high is it in m to within 100m, half point within 200m no idea how high Calgary is, I'm guessing Nevis is lower. It's well over 3,000ft, I think, so let's say around 1200m?
• Name the 3 countries that have land borders with Chile, 1/2 point for 2, full point for all 3 Argentina, BOlivia, Peru?

Rd 2 - For the towns listed are they in Scotland, Canada or Both, 10 points available, with 2 bonus for all right, Another bonus for picking the one that's also the name of a crater on an asteroid:

• Bannf Both, but without the typo!
• Bucklaw Scotland definitely, Canada probably, so go with both
• Clackmannan Scotland
• Cockburnspath Scotland
• Cow Head Canada
• Edmonton Canada (but also North London)
• Falkirk both
• Gretna Scotland
• Inverness both
• Stirling both

Good questions. My answers are mostly guesses, some more educated than others, many complete stabs in the dark!

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

I've done lots of pub quizzes in my time and I'm not thick. I'd say those questions are waaaaaaay too hard for a fun evening.

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

^^ what S said.

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

Too hard I agree. You want every one to be able to join in so you need a range of levels of question and a range of subjects. It's a very hard thing that you hav agreed to do!

What about a photo round??? photos of landmarks or somesuch? or famous canadians :rofl: Maybe celebs with Canadian or not? next to their name.

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

Been tweaking since I first started, thats why i've thrown it out here though, once you've stared at the questions for so many go rounds any idea of whether they could be easy or hard go out the window... I thought the geography round was getting easier, 2 True/false type questions, a few where you can guess provinces if you really have no clue. The towns one is fun I thought too given the crowd that will be there.

Other rounds I have include, move quotes, sports, TV/Entertainment, nerd/geek, Christmas and general knowledge.

Oakvillain got 14 out of 25 so not too bad, will hold off on the answers in case anyone else wants to give it a shot.

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

The geography questions are far too hard. Oakvillian is a total nerd and only scored 56%. I also own an anorak and would have fared no better. I know of no Canadian that would get the right answer to any of your questions except by fluke.

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

well, that's over half marks... can't wait to find out which half! Mind you, I thought I knew some of the answers, so only just over 50% either means I was wrong on some of those I thought I knew, or I was pretty unlucky with guesses!

Maybe you could give a multiple-choice option for some of them (like the distance one, height of Ben Nevis, province with nearest population to Scotland...) so that if somebody has a vague notion of the answer it may help to eliminate the obviously wrong?

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

OI!!!!!

(guilty as charged, especially when it comes to geography, though. I'd read an atlas like most people read a novel...)

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

I knew you'd react.:lol:

I'm a bit like you. I got the school geography prize (at A-level). Those questions are bloody hard, though. Too hard for a fun quiz.

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

OK so feedback is leading me to drop the Ben Nevis height (Oakvillain got a half point for that) and the first distance questions.

Also adding in multiple choice of Alberta, BC and Quebec on the population compare.

Any suggestions for geogrpahy type questions to replace them for Canadian/Scots appreciated

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

Can I say that you also need to simplify how the questions are written. Some are too long and you lose interest, or can't remember the beginning. You should allow for a range of abilities, ie not all nerds are good at reading- dyslexia etc. If you are reading out the questions some may be deafies like me (statistically 1 in 5 in Canada) and so it's hard to follow the questions when they are read out.

Er, there may be an alcohol effect here too, so you need to allow for that too.

Pictures, make a sheet of photos of landmarks in your area. Oh yes repeating myself but its a good idea.

How about a sheet left on the table with anagrams of place names?

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

Good point on the question length, and I know that drunkeness will play so will do what I can to simplify. Questions getting longer as I tried to simplify them i.e. went from my first try - How high is Ben Nevis, to bringing Calgary into it and so the question gets longer, can't win!!

The towns list I was planning on handing out, along with the movie quotes to do during the two halves that I will split the quiz up into.

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

Seeing as it looks like I need to do a bit of work to get things easier, I'm going to start putting out more quesitons sooner rather than later to get more feedback...:thumbsup:

Rd 3 - Christmas

• On what day of the year does the 12 days of Christmas end
• Which Christmas characters heart was "two sizes too small"
• Name the original 8 Reindeer that are also the names of the Christmas Mountains in Canada (half point for each 2 right). Bonus point which province are the mountains in
• What's the more common name for St Stephens day
• True or False - Coca-Cola invented the modern image of Santa
• Who directed a Nightmare before Christmas
• What was the name of Scrooges assistant in A Christmas Carol? Bonus point if you can get dead his business partner too?
• Where does Kevin's family go when they leave him home alone for the first time?
• What body of water is Christmas Island found

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

How about

Aberdeen and Fort McMurray are both oil towns. Which is further North?

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

Good one - I like...
thinking Fort Mac but they've gotta be close

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

You definately need a music intro round too!!!! That always causes arguements!!!!!

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

Err arguements already been had about that one, tried it briefly with my MP3 player on random when I had a few people round and it fell on deaf ears, my music tastes not quite in the same range as a lot of the folk coming along so that got dropped!

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

Oh well, since you ask so nicely....

Rd 3 - Christmas

• On what day of the year does the 12 days of Christmas end Epiphany, Jan 6th
• Which Christmas characters heart was "two sizes too small" No idea. Tiny Tim?
• Name the original 8 Reindeer that are also the names of the Christmas Mountains in Canada (half point for each 2 right). Bonus point which province are the mountains in Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen. Dunno about the Christmas Mountains. I'll guess Alberta
• What's the more common name for St Stephens day Boxing Day
• True or False - Coca-Cola invented the modern image of Santa false. They popularised a late-Victorian image in the 1930s
• Who directed a Nightmare before Christmas Aaarrgghh. Can't remember. It wasn't Tim Burton - he produced it.
• What was the name of Scrooges assistant in A Christmas Carol? Bonus point if you can get dead his business partner too? His business partner is Jacob Marley - it's his ghost that does the apparition thing. Can't remember his assistant though.
• Where does Kevin's family go when they leave him home alone for the first time? On holiday! Florida? or is that one of the later ones?
• What body of water is Christmas Island found Indian Ocean (although there's also Kiritimati in the Pacific which is sometimes known as Christmas Island. I'd better get my geography anorak back on, eh?)

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

it's Aberdeen - just. 57 degrees and change compared to Fort Mac's 56.7 degrees. I looked that one up, is that allowed? ;)

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

Christmas score for Oakvillain - 8 from 12

Better round you think?

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

yes. It's a bit more general-knowledgy and pop-cultural - people less nerdy than (Souvenir and) me will probably have more to enjoy!

I haven't done a pub quiz in absolutely ages - I'm enjoying these. Thanks!

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

Get yourself a general knowledge version of Trivial Pursuit. A good range of questions on mixed subjects. Everyone can participate by choosing the question to ask someone else.

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

Feeling better after that round didn't get as massacared as my Geography round!! ;)

Rd 4 - Nerd/Geeky (this may be back on the too tough route...and thinking based on earlier feedback that I will need to shorten a couple of these questions)

• Which very popular writer, with a degree, invented the word 'Nerd' - everyone in this house (incl kids) has read books by this author?
• Who was created first - Superman, Batman or Spiderman?
• Which best-selling video game series has "Master Chief" as it's main hero
• What was "Jerry's Guide to the World Wide Web" renamed as in 1994? Hint it's the 2nd most visited website in the US, and the most visited in the world
• Which famous comedian featured in a bizarre Microsoft advert earlier this year shopping for shoes with Bill Gates
• Original Super Mario Bros for the NES had how many worlds - Bonus point Jumpman, as Mario was first known, appeared for the first time in which game
• The Dark Knight is the top grossing domestic (US & Canada) film based on a comic book with $527mill, what's the second highest grossing comic book movie according to Box Office Mojo?
• What is the speed of sound at sea level called?
• What is the name of the fictional company that Wile E Coyote shopped for most of his products from?
• By what name is the geeky character Jeff Albertson better known as in the Simpsons, Bonus point how old is Bart

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

You are doing all sorts of horrible things to my productivity this afternoon!

• Which very popular writer, with a degree, invented the word 'Nerd' - everyone in this house (incl kids) has read books by this author? Dr Seuss
• Who was created first - Superman, Batman or Spiderman? Superman
• Which best-selling video game series has "Master Chief" as it's main hero absolutely no idea
• What was "Jerry's Guide to the World Wide Web" renamed as in 1994? Hint it's the 2nd most visited website in the US, and the most visited in the world Yahoo
• Which famous comedian featured in a bizarre Microsoft advert earlier this year shopping for shoes with Bill Gates Seinfeld?
• Original Super Mario Bros for the NES had how many worlds - Bonus point Jumpman, as Mario was first known, appeared for the first time in which game no idea for either. I'll guess at 12 worlds
• The Dark Knight is the top grossing domestic (US & Canada) film based on a comic book with $527mill, what's the second highest grossing comic book movie according to Box Office Mojo? one of the spiderman movies? .. I'll guess at no 2.
• What is the speed of sound at sea level called? erm... the speed of sound? Oh, hang on... Mach 1
• What is the name of the fictional company that Wile E Coyote shopped for most of his products from? ACME
• By what name is the geeky character Jeff Albertson better known as in the Simpsons, Bonus point how old is Bart don't know. I'd guess Bart's about 9

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

Oakvillain - 6 out of 12 - thoughts on the last round?

Good work on the Dr Seuss answer!!

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

We have a couple of his adult books (that sounds wrong... I mean books for grown-ups, not that kind of adult books) of cartoons and a biographical note in one of them mentions his coining of "Nerd" - IIRC it was one of a list of strange creatures that somebody brought back from somewhere else?

Some of that round wasn't really my cup of tea - I'm not a videogamer or comic book reader so there was a lot of guesswork. But I reckon they're probably pitched about right so long as you have somebody in each team who knows Superman from Spiderman or Bart from Lisa.

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

K thanks - last one for today, save sports, general knowledge and entertainment for tomorrow.

Rd 5 - Movie Quotes

• Hey Uncle Scar, when I'm King, what'll that make you
• I'm packing your extra pair of shoes, and your angry eyes just in case
• I have nipples, Greg, would you milk me?
• But why is the rum gone?
• I was unfortunate enough in my youth to come across a vomit-flavored one, and since then I have rather lost my liking for them
• Stop trying to hit me and hit me
• "You do too much - college, a job, all this time with me... You're not Superman, you know."
• I am serious ... and don’t call me Shirley
• That's 30 minutes away. I'll be there in 10
• My first day as a woman and I am already having hot flashes

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

I'ts one of very few I know the answer to. :(

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

Ha I did have guess the actual speed in as a question at one time, then took it out as I thought (probably correctly) this was too hard!!

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

The speed of sound in what?? Air? water? pus? blood?

1550 m/s in soft tissue
1540 m/s in fat
4050 m/s in bone

all depends where you start from :rofl::rofl:

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

:p I made the assumption it was in air but really can't say for sure. :o;):D

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

The questions are getting easier I know some answers now;) the originals were definately too complicated, my husband and I are working our way through the movie quotes:D

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

Could we have the answers now ? The movie quotes !

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

I'll do the answers in order, and throw out some more. Nobodies attempted the movie quotes one yet though I think they are quite easy except for a couple. :blink:

Geography answers (the hardest round...)

• How far as the crow flies between Calgary and Stirling in KM - 6504km
• On which northern island is the capital of Nunavut, located? Bonus - correctly spell the capital Iqaluit - Baffin Island, Iqaluit
• Scotland's population is just over 5 million based on the 2006 census, which Canadian province is closest in population size - BC pop is 4.4mil
• Rank the capital cities of Chile, Canada & Scotland from largest to smallest by population - Ottawa 812,129, Edinburgh 457,830, Santiago 200,792
• Whats shorter, Chile at it's widest point, or the distance between Calgary & Saskatoon by road - Chile width 430km Drive is 615km
• 3rd & 4th largest towns in Scotland - Aberdeen & Dundee
• There is only one point where 4 provinces/territories meet in Canada, half point for each province/territry at that point - MB SK, NWT, NU
• Ben Nevis is the highest point in Scotland, is it higher or lower than Calgary, Calgary 1048m, Ben Nevis 1344m
• Name the 3 countries that have land borders with Chile, 1/2 point for 2, full point for all 3 - Peru, Bolivia, Argentina

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

Towns in Scotland/Canada:

• Banff - both
• Bucklaw - Canada
• Clackmannan - Scotland and also an asteroid crater
• Cockburnspath - Scotland
• Cow Head - Canada
• Edmonton - Canada
• Falkirk - Scotland
• Gretna - Both
• Inverness - both
• Stirling - both

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

Christmas Rd:

• On what day of the year does the 12 days of Christmas end - Jan 6th Epiphany
• Which Christmas characters heart was "two sizes too small" - The Grinch
• Name the original 8 Reindeer that are also the names of the Christmas Mountains in Canada. Bonus point which province are the mountains in -Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, Blitzen, Province NB
• What's the more common name for St Stephens day - Boxing Day
• True or False - Coca-Cola invented the modern image of Santa - False
• Who directed a Nightmare before Christmas - Tim Burton
• What was the name of Scrooges assistant in A Christmas Carol? Bonus point if you can get dead his business partner too? - Bob Cratchit & Jacob Marley
• Where does Kevin's family go when they leave him home alone for the first time? - Paris, France
• What body of water is Christmas Island found - Indian Ocean

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

Nerd/Geek Round:

• Which very popular writer, with a degree, invented the word 'Nerd' - Dr Seuss
• Who was created first - Superman, Batman or Spiderman? - Superman
• Which best-selling video game series has "Master Chief" as it's main hero - Halo
• What was "Jerry's Guide to the World Wide Web" renamed as in 1994? Hint it's the 2nd most visited website in the US, and the most visited in the world - yahoo
• Which famous comedian featured in a bizarre Microsoft advert earlier this year shopping for shoes with Bill Gates - Jerry Seinfeld
• Original Super Mario Bros for the NES had how many worlds - Bonus point Jumpman, as Mario was first known, appeared for the first time in which game - 8 & Donkey Kong
• What's the second highest grossing comic book movie according to Box Office Mojo? Spiderman
• What is the speed of sound at sea level called? Mach 1
• What is the name of the fictional company that Wile E Coyote shopped for most of his products from? Acme Corporation
• By what name is the geeky character Jeff Albertson better known as in the Simpsons, Bonus point how old is Bart. Comic Book Guy & Bart is 10

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

Should really be doing some work so going to hold off on any more questions and the movie quote answers for an hour or two so if anyone wants to have a shot at those let see how you do...

Re: Testing my Pub Quiz
 

I'd take issue with a couple of your answers... if you have guests as pedantic as me you may need to clarify the questions a little....

That may be true of the formal city boundaries, but is certainly not the case for total urban population. It wouldn't have made my original answer any less wrong :), but (at least according to Wikipedia) Santiago has around 7m people living in the metropolitan area, compared to about 1.25m in Edinburgh and 1.4m in Ottawa's National Capital Region.

No he didn't... Tim Burton wrote and produced, but Henry Selick directed. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107688/

I can only begin to guess at a couple of the movie quotes, but happened to remember TB didn't direct The Nightmare Before Christmas because I got it wrong in a quiz once!